Anthony Carter likens himself to Rocky Balboa as the striker, whose career has taken him from Bangkok to Transylvania, Campbelltown and Lisbon, dreams of completing his "life's work" by landing a Socceroos call-up.
An almost complete unknown beyond the most fervent of Australian football followers, the 30-year-old is arguably the country's most in-form forward heading into this month's crunch World Cup qualifiers.
Hidden away in the furthest-flung corners of Europe for the most part of his career, Carter has been out of sight and off the radar when it comes to national team selection.
Perhaps, that is, until recently, with the uncapped Melburnian hitting a career-best vein of form for Liga Portugal 2 side Alverca.
Carter leads the competition's golden boot race with 13 goals in 23 games for Alverca, who last month were taken over by a consortium fronted by Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.
If there is a hallmark to Tony Popovic's tenure in charge of the Socceroos, it's that the Australian boss isn't afraid to bring players in from left field, providing they have proven their ability.
"It's my life's work, all the sacrifices I've made through my career have been to have the opportunity to represent my country," Carter told AAP.
"I'm so proud of my country, and having my family name (on a jersey) there would be nothing bigger than that."
Barring an uneventful 10-game stint with Macarthur, Carter has not played football in Australia since leaving for Italy as a 15-year-old.
"When I went back to play for Macarthur that was the first time playing professionally in an Australian league," said Carter, who never featured for any of Australia's youth teams.
"I was basically a foreigner in Australia, even if people didn't see it like that."
Carter played just five games across three seasons in Romania with CFR Cluj between the ages of 18 and 21, and feels he has been playing catch-up ever since.
He had a season in Thailand, but has spent most of his time in Portugal's lower leagues - including with Benfica's B team - before hitting his current goal-laden run of form with Alverca.
His current club - 30 minutes from the centre of Lisbon - were in the third division last season.
Now they find themselves on the cusp of promotion to the Liga Portugal, where the likes of Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon await.
"I feel like the level here is very, very high and if the first league is ranked as one of (Europe's) top five, I don't think the second division is far off," Carter said.
"Things have gelled really well for us and I'm happy to be able to do my part by scoring, which is what I love to do
"I feel like I've always been there, but I think now I'm as mentally strong as I've ever been.
"I think now with experience, my faith and my family around me I think I'm coming into the best years of my career.
"I feel like it (my career) is a Rocky Balboa story. I'm just an Australian trying to work and fight for his dream - there's nothing better than that."
